"Music accompanies me in all that I do — music is a language my soul speaks fluently”
A self-styled music enthusiast living in Jerusalem, YAAKOV BROWN has become quite an expert on the industry, especially on the history of the “oldies” — at least according to the avid following on his Jewish Musical Notes chat (the members of which include a number of musical personalities as well). “I’m not the biggest know-it-all when it comes to musical factoids. It’s just that music accompanies me in all that I do — music is a language my soul speaks fluently.”
Yaakov decided to combine his exhaustive audio library with his passion for writing in order to share the beauty and magnificence of Jewish song with anyone willing to listen. What started as a small email list of family and friends, quickly turned into a much larger crowd. “My wife suggested an official WhatsApp group to go along with the email list (for those without WhatsApp). And so I began ‘Jewish Musical Notes,’ and the response has been simply amazing.”
MY GOALS BEHIND “JEWISH MUSICAL NOTES”
I believe that everyone can experience music deeply, as long as they really listen with their heart. On the group, I try to open doors for people to connect to music in a more meaningful way. When we know more about the words and their meaning, the composer and the singer, we become more emotionally invested in the niggun. My second intention is to introduce a younger generation to the priceless sounds of yesteryear, and similarly, to reveal to the more seasoned ear the beauty that exists in the music of today. I’m also trying to help restore the lost value that our Jewish music industry has suffered these past couple decades. If we can somehow regain the admiration and appreciation for music, then maybe we will stop financially sabotaging musical careers.
THE BIGGEST CROWD-PLEASERS
I get a lot of nostalgic comments from our “Oldie of the Week” choices, but the “Behind the Notes” series seems to be a favorite. In this series, we go behind the scenes and get a closer look at what inspired the composer. We’ve covered songs such as the original “Odcha Hashem Elokai” (a still-popular niggun often used at chuppahs for “Hu yevareich es hechassan v’es hakallah”), written by veteran composer and kiruv educator Rabbi Hertzel Schechter, Itzy Weisberg’s famous Pirchei “Ani Ma’amin,” and many more. Most recently, we highlighted Abie’s tear-inducing “The Man from Vilna” (Journeys 4). No matter which song is chosen, someone learns something they’ve never known before, and that gets people excited.
MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE JEWISH ALBUM
If I had to pick just one, off the top of my head, it would be the 1971 record Awaken/Urah by Yisroel Lamm, and The Neginah Orchestra and Singers, remastered as a CD in 2000. That rich, ’70’s orchestra sound and the diversity of song brings the listener back to another time. (Remember “Urah urah urah kevodi?”)
A SONG THAT GIVES ME CHIZUK IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
Reb Yosil Rosenzweig’s “Va’ani K’cheiresh/ Vehu Rachum” always lifts me up. More formally known as “The Gate of Return,” it appeared on Diaspora Yeshiva Band’s third record, At the Gate of Return, back in 1978. You can also hear it on the 2010 Reb Yosil and the Kosher Gravy Co. release called Pischu Li/ Open the Gates.”
A SONG THAT TAKES ME BACK TO MY OWN YESHIVAH DAYS
“Tizkeh Lemitzvos” by Lipa from his 2005 Keinehora album puts me back in the beis medrash dorm. I can hear the whole album playing up and down the hallways.
A SONG THAT REMINDS ME OF MY GRANDPARENTS
When I hear Dudu Fisher’s ‘97 album Mamenyu — especially that title track — I think of my Bubby, may she live and be well.
A SONG I ORIGINALLY COULDN’T CONNECT TO, BUT LATER (WITH AGE) FOUND THAT IT GREW ON ME
Any song could fall into this category since, with age, many songs will carry a new significance to the now more mature listener. When I was a kid, I sang the Modzhitz (Reb Azriel Dovid Fastag Treblinka train) “Ani Ma’amin” as a soloist for a shul dinner. I could see the tears forming in everyone’s eyes but I had no idea why. It wasn’t until I was older that I learned about the story behind that haunting Holocaust niggun.
AN INSTRUMENT I WISH I PLAYED
Well, I’m a drummer, but the one instrument I wish I could play is the guitar. You can bring it anywhere and sing along — instant kumzitz! Drum set? Not so much.
A SONG THAT MADE ME WANT TO GO LOOK UP A PASUK
When Yossi Green’s “Anovim” was sung at the Priority One concert, I needed to know where those words were from. I remember running to the shelf when The 8th Note, an album of his compositions, came out in 2008 and heard MBD singing “Anovim” — and was delighted all over again to find the words of the Yalkut Shimoni.
THE HIT DANCE SONG WHEN I GOT MARRIED
Miami Boys Choir’s “Revach” had its own simchah dance, and so did MBD’s “Usid” if I’m not mistaken. Oh, and I can’t forget Dovid Gabay’s “Legabay.”
A SONG THAT TAKES ME BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD
There’s a little-remembered “Shalom Aleichem” that we used to sing on Friday night. It can be found on the 1981 Ruach Vol. 2 record (that was Alan Freishtadt, Myron Chaitovsky et al back in the day), and what’s unusual about it is that the low part segues into the high part without repeating itself, so to sing each verse three times, you would sing the low part, the high part, and then go back to the low in order to complete your first set of Shalom Aleichem. Then for bo’achem l’shalom, you start with the high part, continue with the low, and then end off with the high part once more. Repeat for the final verses. It’s a beautiful tune, but I sometimes get strange looks from guests when I choose it.
A MUSICAL ARTIST I REALLY CONNECT WITH
Lately it’s been Naftali Kempeh and Reb Joey Newcomb. Their style is so personal and meaningful, it’s very hard not to connect with them.
MY FAVORITE ENGLISH SONG
I’ll choose MBD’s “We Are One,” from the 1999 We Are One album — I have a soft spot for unity songs and Ken Burgess lyrics. This one checks both boxes.
A SONG THAT’S TOO COMPLICATED FOR ME TO SING, BUT I STILL LOVE HEARING
Chazzan Meyer Machtenberg’s classic “Shehecheyanu.” You can hear it performed in a chazzanus rendition on HASC’s A Time for Music 15 (United We Stand, United We Pray, United We Sing).
A SONG I CONSIDER UNDERRATED
I’d go with something recent: Maybe “Adir,” by Avrum Mordche Schwartz on his 2019 Kruvim Elyonim album. Honestly, I think every song on that album is severely underrated. There’s also the gorgeous “Mi Yaaleh” by Dudi Kalish on his excellent 2018 Zug Shoin Ven album.
Yaakov Brown’s blog is available by contacting jewishmusicalnotes@gmail.com
(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 834)
